Youth Traffic Safety: A Continuing Concern

Posted By
Stabinski & Funt, P.A.

Life can be hard to navigate, and if you become a parent, it’s common
to find yourself wishing that your kids would learn from your mistakes
rather than repeat them. Some lessons transfer easily: look both ways
before crossing the street, don’t talk to strangers, wear sunscreen.
But others are a sign of the times: change your passwords often, be careful
what you post, don’t participate in sexting. Warnings about behavior
behind the wheel may be the most important of all. Familiar cautions about
not drinking and driving or speeding while driving have been joined by
admonitions not to drive when tired or while using a mobile phone. The
National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) highlighted global youth
traffic safety earlier this summer and AAA reminds us all that summer
is a particularly hazardous time for teen drivers, but there is never
a bad time to bring awareness to these issues.

Driving too fast – Managing speed may be the single most important
behavior modification that a person can make to increase road safety,
benefitting motorists and pedestrians alike. Excessive speeding is a widespread
aggravating factor in crashes and the main factor in one-third of fatal
crashes, yet
a simple 5 percent cut in average speed can result in 30 percent less fatal
traffic wrecks. Encourage your teen drivers to #SlowDown and remind them that, whether
on wheels or on foot, everyone wants to get where they are going safely.

Talk to young drivers about their driving habits, and model good behavior
behind the wheel. Key areas include:

Not speeding

Not driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Concerns that come with driving after dark

Not texting while driving.

Driving while drunk – Alcohol-impaired drivers are involved in
motor vehicle crashes that kill almost 30 people a day, the equivalent
of one death every 53 minutes. While ingesting alcohol is illegal for anyone under age 21, the reality
is that many young adults do participate in this activity – and
many also choose to drive under the influence. Many states have zero-tolerance
laws for underage drinkers who get behind the wheel. Consuming a relatively
small amount of beer, wine, or hard liquor can affect basic driving skills
and make the road a far more dangerous place.

Driving while texting – Distractions do not make for better drivers,
and typing on your phone while behind the wheel is a recipe for disaster.
Caution young drivers who are inseparable from their mobile devices that
the familiarity is a false sense of security. Get them to practice the
habit of not checking their phone every few minutes, not reaching for
it every time it makes a sound. Texting distracts brains (and hands) from
the primary task of operating a vehicle safely.

Small changes can add up to attentive, skilled driving behaviors. However,
if you or someone you love has been injured in a motor vehicle accident,
you need an experienced attorney to effectively represent your interests.
At Stabinski & Funt, P.A., we have successfully represented victims
throughout Florida who have been seriously hurt by negligent drivers.
We have also assisted families who have lost loved ones in traffic accidents.
For over 45 years, we have been helping injured motorists, passengers,
pedestrians, and cyclists put their lives back on track, and we are ready
to help you. For advice on how to proceed next, or if you have any questions
about this topic, call 305-964-8644 or
fill out a free case evaluation form.

Free Consultation

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.